Since the Roe ruling a gynecology clinic in Texas has received increased requests for permanent sterilization: 'I sense that they're scared'

A women's health clinic in Austin, Texas, has received dozens of requests for permanent sterilizing after Friday's decision by the Supreme Court.

Most of the new patient requests were for tubal ligation, which was the majority of the requests.

Dr. Tyler Handcock told Insider that the clinic had only been open for a few weeks.

I sense that they are scared and anxious. They are worried that other rights will be taken away. They might be afraid contraception will be taken away. He said that his patients don't feel supported by anyone so they want to take care of this now.

The reproductive rights in Texas will change in a few weeks. Abortions will be banned from the moment of fertilization in the state. After the Supreme Court's judgement, this will go into effect. A Texan woman was charged with murder after an abortion, despite the law prohibiting prosecuting people who have abortions.

Texas provides few exceptions to save the life of a pregnant person or prevent substantial impairment of major bodily function, which is why more Americans are considering their reproductive health options.

From one or two requests to more than a hundred

The majority of requests for tubal ligation were made by people in their 20s and 30s. He said that before Friday it was normal for the clinic to get one to two requests a week.

Tubal ligation removes both fallopian tubes.

Handcock said that the surgery requires complex counseling before it can be done because it is not reversible.

He said the risk of regret was the biggest risk.

Handcock said his clinic asks patients on the day of surgery if they want to have it, because of this.

If we have a patient who wants to get permanent birth control, that's fine. Let's discuss it and discuss your options. There is a risk of regret, but it is safe, ethical, and legal. The younger you are, the more likely you are to regret.

Anyone over the age of 21 can access the procedure.

"I think that if it's happening here, that means it's happening everywhere else."

In order to accommodate all of the requests, the practice will work longer hours and hold group appointments to see as many patients as it can.

According to Handcock, other clinics are getting calls about this procedure.

If it's happening here, that means it's happening everywhere. This is a human rights issue that has been taken away and people are scared. I think people are worried about other human rights being taken away. He told Insider that he thinks all of us are at risk.

The majority of patients Handcock sees have already had children and are done with having children, but he expects this to change because of the Supreme Court's decision

"I think it's going to be a huge shift with this thunderous change in our society as of Friday, where we're going to see patients who have never had kids request permanent sterilizing," he said. I think that is alright. I am also an advocate for them.